As the world is becoming more informed and archeological techniques and findings have improved, what was called “The Dark Ages” has had some new light shed on it. Generally speaking, the Dark Ages is the time from approximately 700 A.D. to around 1500 A.D. The term “dark ages” was originally coined because there was a great lack of new writing and art, new trade, new education, and historical records were not kept as faithfully as they were before and after this era. It was a term usually used in a rather derogatory sense.

The term “dark ages” was also used in a Christian sense in regard to the difference between “light and dark” and “good and evil." During these years, which many viewed as barbaric, there was a great deal of feuding over land and kingdoms, especially in the European countries. Throughout this whole time, however, the Christian Church was able to preserve Biblical writings and other ancient writings as well. It is believed that it was the Christian church that was instrumental in unifying the people Europe, because it was unvarying in its stand and practices.

Today historians have discovered new information about the Dark Ages, and have been trying to dispel the derogatory connotation of the term by giving a more neutral meaning to it. It is now believed that The Dark Ages is more about us being in the dark about that era than it is about those living in that age being in darkness. Most historians prefer the use of the terms “medieval” or “early middle ages,” in lieu of using the term “dark ages” because of the misunderstanding it seems to evoke in ordinary readers of historical writings.